How We Score
Every provider on PickGoldIRA receives a PGI Score from 0 to 10, built from five weighted categories. The same rubric is applied to every company, whether or not we have a commercial relationship with it.
Trustworthiness
30%Ratings and complaint histories with the Better Business Bureau and Business Consumer Alliance, Trustpilot review volume and distribution, years in business, and any regulatory actions. A company with a sanction history is excluded from our rankings entirely, not just scored down.
Fees & Pricing Transparency
25%The published fee schedule (setup, custodian, storage), whether product pricing is available without a phone call, typical dealer spreads where observable, promotion terms, and how willingly the company puts its numbers in writing.
Products & Storage
15%Which IRA-eligible metals are offered, custodian choice, depository options including segregated storage, and buyback terms when it's time to sell.
Customer Support
15%Contact channels and hours, how rollovers are handled, whether the sales process pressures or educates, and what customers report about post-sale service — the part of the relationship that lasts decades.
Education
15%The quality and honesty of learning resources: does the company explain risks and costs, or lean on fear? Are resources freely accessible or gated behind marketing funnels?
Where the data comes from
We use each company's published materials, its profiles with the BBB, BCA and Trustpilot, and direct contact with the company where fee schedules aren't public. Facts are re-checked when we update the rankings; the "updated" date on each page reflects the last full review pass. Fees, minimums and promotions change frequently — always confirm current terms with the provider.
What gets a company excluded
A documented regulatory action, a pattern of complaints alleging undisclosed markups, or insolvency removes a company from the rankings outright — we do not simply score it down and leave it on the list with a referral link attached. That rule has teeth: it currently excludes several firms that other comparison sites rank highly, including one that has since ceased trading owing customers tens of millions. We publish the excluded companies and our reasons on the rankings page so you can judge the calls for yourself.
How we make money
Some companies pay us a referral fee when you open an account through our links. That revenue funds the site. It never changes a score: compensation can affect which companies appear as partners and the order of promotional placements, but the PGI Score and the editorial ranking are set by the rubric above before any commercial consideration. Read our full advertising disclosure.